Ecuador is home to great weather and jaw-dropping low prices. The country offers perennial springtime in the mountains...a land of longevity in Vilcabamba...and Spanish-colonial charm in Cuenca...all of which can be enjoyed on even an extremely modest budget.

Ecuador is not known for its beaches, and its coast remains relatively undeveloped. Current talk of a new beach road, though, is bringing investor attention to one particular stretch of coast, giving our editors reason to return Ecuador to our active radar screen.

Tourist Visa: automatic 90 days upon entryResidency: Retirement, Real Estate/Securities Investor, Industry Export Investor, Executive. An individual is deemed to be resident if he/she is in Ecuador for more than 6 months in a year. Citizenship: Three uninterrupted years of legal residency